A white flash.

He was a boy looking up to his father who sat perched on the rooftop, fixing the holes last night’s storm had put there. He had always been proud of his father’s bravery, climbing onto high places without ever falling down or seeming scared of the height.

“Wayen, can you toss me the rope?” his father called suddenly and Wayen hurried to grab the bundle of ropes and throw it up. It was the first day his father had allowed him to help during his work and he was not about to mess it up. With only one try he managed to hand his father the bundle.

Flash.

Summer made way for winter and they sat huddled at the fireplace, enjoying the warmth of the burning logs. Wind howled outside, creaking wood and loud thumps the only other sounds audible from outside.

“We’ll have plenty of work tomorrow,” his father sit and mother nodded absently as she stirred the near boiling stew.

“Wayen, I trust you’ll help your father tomorrow?”

Wayen gave her a look as if she had just asked if the sky was blue and she gave him a smile.

“When can I help?” his sister Evelyn asked with an expecting look. She was four years younger than Wayen, but just as eager to help around the house. He’d always thought that strange. What kind of girl prefers helping her father with his work rather than playing outside with the other kids?

“When you can throw a bundle of ropes high enough,” he teased her and she stuck her tongue out.

Flash

Wayen had always been one of the best at sticks, only the older boys ever came close to beating him. Not that it made them admire him, it only fuelled their anger when they once again tasted defeat.

So they had come up with a new strategy. Charge him all at once. Sticks was supposed to be a fun game, Wayen never actually hurt anyone, but his streak of winning had turned the purpose of the game from having fun to defeating him.

Even so, his smaller stature and leaner build allowed him to slip in between their wild attacks without much trouble. From left to right and from front to back he darted, fending off blows deftly all the while handing some back out as well. One by one, the older boys retreated with bruised wrists and ankles until only the oldest remained. The blacksmith’s son Caleb.

He was a sturdy one, the days spent helping his father in the forge providing him with a muscular build. With a roar, he charged at Wayen with fists swinging, his stick forgotten in the dust behind him. Wayen swung his stick at the incoming fists, but Caleb barely flinched when it broke on his arms. He took a hold of Wayen’s arm and aimed his other fist straight at the smaller boy’s face.

Wayen braced for the impact. He thought he felt a tingle in his neck just before his face became Caleb’s personal punching bag.

Flash

There was a newcomer in town. Wayen had been one of the first to meet him as he left his house, suddenly founding himself face to face with a stranger who called himself Ishida. One look at the man was enough for Wayen to know he was not from around these parts. He had near-straight black hair and his eyes were… slanted in a way.

Ishida had introduced himself as Sealer from the Order to the major and had taken up residence in one of the abandoned houses just a bit north out of the village. From what Wayen had been able to overhear from his conversation with the major and the village council, he was conducting a study on ore veins in the Silver Mountains to the north.

A Sealer! Coming to live in their town! It was the only subject people could talk of that evening in the Silverspring.

Flash

A sudden scream made Wayen drop the firewood he had collected. It had come from his left. Without hesitation, he sprinted towards the source of the sound, picking up a thick branch he spotted on the ground in case there was need for it. He heard other screams behind him, but they came in response to the first one. He was closest.

Just ahead, he spotted Caleb with his back against a tree. Three wolves surrounded him and it was all Caleb could do to fend them off. Not giving himself time to think, Wayen charged forwards and aimed his branch at the first wolf’s head. The wolf seemed surprised by the sudden attack and was only able to move slightly out of the way of the swing.

The far end of the branch grazed the wolf’s eye and it yelped out in anguish. Not giving the beast time to recuperate, he swung again and hit the beast straight on the head. A tingle set itself in the back of his neck and instinctively, he spun on his heels swinging his weapon with all his might.

Somehow he was not surprised when he hit a second wolf, who had just leaped at his back moments earlier, straight in the side. The force of the swing forced the wolf aside. The third wolf leaped for Caleb, Wayen could only watch from where he stood.

The wolf hit something invisible and stopped mid-air before falling down to the ground. For a second it stood back up until his head jerked sideways and he collapsed unconscious. The other two wolves shared the same fate in quick succession.

Out of nowhere, Ishida appeared, a studying look on his face as he regarded Wayen.

“You boys alright?”

Flash

The sun shone brightly in the blue open sky above them. This had to be the hottest day of the year so far, Wayen considered. It rarely got this warm so far up north, those temperatures were reserved for the Ashana kingdom and the Calm Waste. He could do perfectly fine without this heat.

The fact that he had to spend the entire day up on the roof without a chance of shade wasn’t helping either. But his father was getting too old to be working in these conditions so Wayen, a healthy eighteen year old boy, took over on days like these. He had been taught well enough to be able to thatch roofs without assistance.

A face poked up at the roof’s edge.

“You should take your shirt off,” Evelyn suggested with a grin.

He looked at her confused. “Why? I don’t want to get sunburned all over.”

She rolled her eyes and sighed. “Are you really that dense? Look behind you, but do it subtly.”

As casual as he could manage Wayen turned and look to where Evelyn indicated. There, sitting on a fence and staring straight at him, sat Caleb’s sister Lora.

Evelyn laughed as she saw Wayen’s expression. “I’m pretty certain she fancies you.”

“Get lost,” he grunted and waves his arm toward her as to shoo her away. To his horror, the ladder Evelyn was standing on suddenly began to tilt backwards. With a cry, Evelyn reached for the roof to late and fell down with the ladder.

Disregarding his own safety, Wayen launched forward in an attempt to reach for her outstretched hand, but failed to grab it. Just before she hit the ground, she seemed to slow down and stopped entirely in the air. Lying flat on his belly just over the edge of the roof, he stared at her in amazement. She was fine.

“What…?” he whispered as he pulled his arm back and heaved himself back onto the roof. “Are you okay?” he called out.

“I’m fine,” Evelyn responded as she stood up and dusted off her clothes. “Somehow.”

Just as Wayen jumped down from the roof, Ishida arrived hurriedly. So that’s how she’s fine, he thought.

“Ishida!” Evelyn cried out and ran to hug him. “You saved me!”

He did not provide her with an answer, but returned the hug nonetheless. The look he gave Wayen gave him chills, they were knowing eyes.

Flash

“She’s too sick, Wayen. I’m sorry, there’s nothing I can do.” The finality in Ishida’s voice disintegrated the last remaining speck of hope he had hold on to. “I’m a Sealer, not a Healer. I will send for a Healer from Arcton, but I fear it would be too late by the time he would arrive here.”

“Thank you, Ishida,” Wayen’s father whispered with trembling lips. “For everything.”

Ishida nodded and left the room where Evelyn lay unconscious in bed, her face whiter than the sheets she was covered with. Only two days ago she had been playing outside without a care in the world. Now she was dying. Mother had stopped crying an hour ago, only a hollow expression remained in her eyes as she looked at her daughter.

The three of them sat at her side throughout the rest of the day until eventually, both his mother and father went to sleep in the adjacent room. Wayen stayed though, he would sleep in his chair if he had to.

It’s not fair, he thought. Why should she die, what did she ever do wrong? If only Ishida had been a Healer… No, he couldn’t blame him, he had already saved the both of them more than once. Their only hope lay in Evelyn’s strength and if she could hold on until the Healer from Arcton arrived.

She had to be strong enough. She had to be.

Flash

Wayen woke up with a start, his neck straining as he arose from the chair he had fallen asleep in. His hands still held Evelyn’s. She was warm at the touch.

A soft grunt escaped her lips and in an instant Wayen was wide awake.

“Evelyn?” he whispered softly as he moved closer to her face. Had she regained some of her colour?

Slowly, her eyes opened just enough for Wayen to see her pupils darting around, looking for his face.

“Wayen…” she whimpered, his name barely recognisable.

“I’m here Evelyn,” he comforted her as he squeezed her hand. “I’m here for you.”

Flash

“I’ve made my decision, father. One year and you’ll have me back.”

“I know I can’t stop you,” his father sighed. “You’re a man in your own right, it’s not my place to deny you to take this journey.”

“It’s not as if I’ll be travelling alone,” he assured him. “Ishida will be travelling with me for the larger part, at least until we get to Kor.”

Wayen could hardly believe the day was finally here. For years he had wanted to go out and explore the world, see what lay beyond their village. And now he was only days away from doing exactly that. When Ishida heard of his plans, he had also decided to leave, arguing it was about time he got back to Eresath to share the results of his studies.

They would sail south together and navigate around Ashana. Once in Kor, Wayen would continue north to Barn before heading back home while Ishida would sail for Eresath.

He would finally see the world.

Flash

White foam sprayed his faced as the waves bashed into the side of the ship. According to the captain Olavo’s Strait was normally a calm one and these conditions were abnormal here, but Wayen didn’t mind. He enjoyed the swaying of the deck beneath his feet, the waves soaking him to the bone and the wind howling around him.

Making port at Aldar in these conditions would be a suicide mission, they would have to wait out the storm while it trashed around them.

Flash

“South Harbour!” the sailor in the crow’s nest yelled out and Wayen ran towards the bow. Just on the horizon near the coastline, towers came into view followed sometime later by the rest of the city. Further beyond, the southern reaches of the Owein Peaks raised high towards the clouds.

“The last city of Anthor before reaching the border with Ashana,” Ishida told him as he joined him at the railing. “About time we made land for a while.”

Wayen regarded him curiously. “Why is that? We have plenty of provisions, don’t we?”

Ishida nodded and then pointed at the back of the ship and beyond to the ocean that lay behind them. A single ship could be spotted just near the horizon.

“That ship has been following us since we left Arcton. They have docked where we docked and departed again as soon as we did. They even endured the storms at Olavo’s Strait just to stay on our tail. Keep your wits about you when we make port, Wayen.”

With a sudden feeling of dread, Wayen nodded.

Flash

Had Ishida always been this skilled in combat, Wayen wondered as he knelt down on the dusty road, knife held at his throat. Before him, Ishida was surrounded men both dead and alive. Four lay face first in the dust, their blood mixing with the earth in brown-red pools.

Three others still surrounded him, their swords pointed straight at Ishida. These men had chased them out of the city the moment they were isolated from the rest of the ship’s crew. For what reason, Wayen did not know. But they wanted blood.

Ishida was in bad shape, his left leg as good as immobilized by a nasty cut along its length. Streaks of blood streamed down his face and left small circles in the dust at his feet. The sword he had snatched from of the dead man hung loosely in his hands.

“I will not let you have him,” Ishida grimaced as he let go of the sword with one hand and pointed it at Wayen. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, the conflict clear in his eyes.

An explosion of pain inside his head blinded Wayen and the world was lost to him. The last he saw before nothingness overtook him was the strange look on Ishida’s face, almost as if he didn’t recognize him, before he roared and charged at the men surrounding him.

Flash

“Over here!” he heard an unknown voice yell. “This one still lives!”

Gentle hands picked him up and put him on a soft surface that carried him away.

“Take him to the Healer Hall, let Healer Yeoman take a look at him.”

He was vaguely aware of buildings passing by above him and people looking at him curiously. Where was he?

Who was he?

Flash

The world returned to normal and Samos jerked forwards onto the floor, Yara only just managing to dodge him in time. For a moment he remained still, panting heavily as he tried to catch his breath.

“Samos?” Yara’s concerned voice asked. “Are you alright? Did it work?”

Slowly, Samos regained his breath and crawled back up onto the bed.

“I remember,” he whispered, floods of memories whirling through his mind. “I remember...”